Disregarding input in wake-on-LAN boot

Abstract

In one example, a method for inhibiting input at a remotely-booted computer. A wake-on-LAN signal is received at the computer from a network while the computer is in a low-power state. A boot function of the computer sets an indicator indicative of a wake-on-LAN condition, the indicator accessible by an operating system of the computer. The operating system is loaded, including a filter driver for an input device of the computer. The filter driver is to intercept input from the device to a function driver for the device. When the indicator is set, input received from the input device is disregarded.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A processor-implemented method for inhibiting local input at a remotely-booted computer, comprising:
 receiving a wake-on-LAN signal at the computer from a network while the computer is in a low-power state; 
 setting an indicator indicative of a wake-on-LAN condition and accessible by an operating system of the computer; 
 loading the operating system including a filter driver for a local user input device of the computer, the filter driver to intercept input from the device to a function driver for the device; and 
 disregarding input received from the device when the indicator is set. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 disabling, by a boot function, the local input device before the loading, wherein the local input device is subsequently enabled by the operating system. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the setting comprises a boot function storing the indicator in non-volatile memory. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the setting comprises creating a virtual wake-on-LAN device in an Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) table. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the disregarding comprises the filter driver
 receiving the input, 
 replacing the input with a dummy message, and 
 sending the dummy message to the function driver. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , where the sending comprises sending a successful completion status to the function driver. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the computer lacks capability to receive user authentication from the network prior to loading the operating system. 
     
     
       8. A remotely-bootable computing system, comprising:
 a network interface to receive a wake-on-LAN signal while the computers in a low-power state; 
 a boot module to set a wake-on-LAN indicator responsive to the signal; 
 an input port to connect a user input device; 
 an input device function driver to convey user input from the input device to an operating system; and 
 a filter driver associated with the function driver and inserted between the function driver and the input port to intercept input from the input device and to disregard the input when the indicator is set. 
 
     
     
       9. The computing system of  claim 8 , wherein the boot module is further to initiate loading of the operating system, the input device function driver, and the filter driver into a memory of the computer. 
     
     
       10. The computing system of  claim 8 , wherein the filter driver is further to pass the input to the function driver when the indicator is not set. 
     
     
       11. The computing system of  claim 8 , wherein the indicator is an ACPI virtual device. 
     
     
       12. The computing system of  claim 8  wherein, when the indicator is set, the filter driver is further to replace the input with a dummy message, and send the dummy message to the function driver. 
     
     
       13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having an executable program stored thereon, wherein the program instructs a processor to:
 determine that a boot of the computer resulted from a wake-on-LAN signal received when the computer is in a low-power state; 
 set an indicator indicative of a wake-on-LAN condition accessible by an operating system; 
 load the operating system; 
 load a function driver for a local user input device; 
 insert between the function driver and the device a filter driver to intercept input from the device; and 
 disregard input from the device received at the filter driver when the indicator is set. 
 
     
     
       14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the program further instructs the processor to:
 disable the local input device prior to loading the operating system; and 
 enable input from the local input device after the filter driver is inserted. 
 
     
     
       15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the low-power state comprises the ACPI S4 state or S5 state.